Coating machine



Sept. 29, 1931. R.. G. WOODS COATING MACHINE Filed May 28. 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept 2'9, 1931. R. .G. WOODS coATING MACHINE Filed May 28.` 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 .ll/11111111111, l

R. G. WOODS COATING MACHINE Filed May 28, 1930 Sept.y 29, 1931.

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 coating material to thesurfaces through. Y, v .ji

Af further 'object-'ofthennti. lsf tof Patented Sept. 29,` 1931 i ooArrING 'i ,c Y applicata@ med "may 28;; 'naso'.I seal' Neff-45eme;

An -objeot 'of' 'this invention is tof provide' air improved apparatus1 operable/tof. apply material tedl therethrough.`

provide ank impreve'dapparatus :iiibliiding material v"feedingl niea'nsf:` operable tofpass flexible material in :operable-i relatlionaeross 'Vanfenlargedus'cale'relative tolsaid latter Fig Y c`oating applying means. i y A. further obf'e't providef -improved vcoating-applying lmeans in'amate-rial-coatingfapparatus,A

Y @retable (-Eairangement; and :combination of elements T1hereinafterset iforth, *pointed f A out in my dawings; i in JYWhi`cli-- fplete apparatus-as assembled' jreadyfor practica-l use. f'Figurer-Qfis `a cross seetion ipnf the indicated f'line'f. 2;2- ofI Figure? l'lnn uref lFigure 3i isfanfelevationv of theright f hand Iend of the* machine r-or apparatus as provide an improvedadjustabletmountingfforlfapparatusasshownvinFiguref l. iFig;-

of vcoating-applying"-Ineansin a' materialn y ff rof'oxie of the-"gear cases-employed'inhmy f r improved apparatus,v the cover plate of -said coating apparatus.

A further object of' the i:inventio'nil-is` to provide improved `means Lfor relative ad! justment of the materialwfeeding meanef'and the l-coating-applyingq means amaterial-1 coatingapparatus. y p y UA `further ob'ectthe invention 'is-*to provide an improved 'apparatus *operable to suecessivelyA apply'r coating'lmaterfifal toa'fp-- posite sides of flexiblelm-aterialifed" thereprovide ane improve.d5'apparata's"V operable to `successively "'apply different lcea'ting "Ina-v ingV liquid coating1 'material'ltof the applying U y l. 1 1 paratus asesh'own', =the numeral' 15 Lf'lesignates--V provide an vimproved vadjivls'talole l relationiof provide a 'Lmaterial-coating apparatus far#V ranged Vfor continuousp progressiva-operation .which is positive and 'eiicient inkoperas .tion relativelyv inexpensive v 'of 'manufacture .tationrafnd .durah-lesin use. f

and sinstallation; susceptible of My invention: consists r iin 1the`fconstrluotion;

f Lure- -51 is an Aelevation,"4A on anf enlargeds'cale,

:case Lb'eing removed -to 'idisclesel interior arl -frangement. S'Fi'gureA 6 isf an elevation,A on the '.same scaleas Figure 5,5of asecondgear Acase employed f in- "the improved apparatusy" the #eoverlj plate vof: said 'case beingeremovedeto discloseinterior' arrangement. f Figure 7V is ai fragmentary," detailfvievv,4v -pa'rtly fsee- `i tion; of one end of coating-applying means @employed in 'the improved apparatus. Fig- ,'uregzSi isr al fragmentary,` ldet-aiil' sectionon @thenipoti-catedy line f- `1 `igure"'-7. Figclaims andi illustrated by the accompanying 2Eigure 1 is' al `frontV elevationoi myx com?, A

t :urei is afragmentary detail seotiontranswers'ely j lof ffone of fthe i brush" elements "'emi- 'played' in the improvedl apparat-us. Figure f i0;k lise a fragmentary, detail section" on 4the V'indieated line 10 -"10jof Figure 9.

v In .the --construction off the improved:Y apf al .base i of'rrnedl inl any desiredfmannei-of L anys-suitable --^material and'Y adapted` tot: be horizontally.'disposed on Ya ;planef.jsurface, .ssuchi asnfafioor, ben'eh,l or Athe likejforfthe ysupportoff myassembled apparatus, means* lsfarmsi-secui-'ing saidv base 1 tol Vits fjsuppprting @surface 1 being provided 1n a 'commonrman- `ner,` fif desired. Posts-16,1 fourin number,

`areftixedia-t one Vrend each to andriseper" `pemilicul arly-v in y spaced, parallel relation? i fromthe rvhase-155- Ysaid :posts: being; similarly .jrspaced 1n pairs transversely of;said?fbase and so* arrangedae -to'deine ion-said base plyng yoke/S17 are formed with registering holes' @ing' `mechanism mandV two coating-applying assemblies, `all of-wliich areA adapted to Vbe carried by the base and posts,` 16 Ffor cooperative functioning in various -combinations according to thepurpose for. whichthe ap aratus is to be employedf' onsidering the upper of the-coating-apassemblies illustrated,l VU-shaped in their parallel legs wheretlirough a post l. yokes parallel with and spaced from said;

`1,6 may be received to slidingly mountgsaidy yolres on said' posts withv the bases of saidposts, one of said yoltes being so mounted Non each' of said posts and retainedin the Ydesired position thereon by means of nutsl 18engaging above and below theyoke. The

. Vyokes 17 are positioned on the posts 16 with their bases extending inwardly' and longi-l vtudinally of the basel, thus; aligning theV .30

yokes on each long side of the apparatus in parallel relation with the yokes on the-other yokes at eachrend of the apparatus being rigidly interconnected bymeans of spaced, parallel rods 19 engaging lthe bases of,y said.

yokes intransverse relation with the base l5. Bosses formed with horizontally-disposed apertures are provided on the-parallel legs `-of each yoke 17 androds 20 received in.

and through said bosses and securely clamped thereto connect alined legs of said yokes Y von each .long side ofthe apparatus, `the assemblyof elements 17,--19 andv20 thus f coinprising a rigidy frame vertically ad justable'.relativetofthe posts A16 throughi.

l manipulation of thenuts'18., Verticallydisposed in parallel relation with, adjacent and inwardly'of the rods 19, cages'21 hav- ,ing a width less than the horizontalspacing between the rods 2O are mounted adjacenteach'end of the rigid frame above i A i versely of the base 15;

Ydescribed by means of apertured bosses fixed to said cages and embracing the, rods 19, wherebysaid cages are arranged `for limitedmovement within said rigidV frame transhorizontally-dis.

'jffposed bars V22 dividing each of said cages into a plurality of-uniform'slide bearings parallell with the rods19. lSlide bloclis 23 are 'arranged to slide transversely of the apparatus in the bearings defined bythe cages 21 and bars 22, saidY blocks being preferably flanged to prevent-.their movement longitudinaly of the apparatus, and

l a` plu rality =of shafts 24lextend longitudi- Vtionhaveleach live slidebearingsin which seven vshafts 24 areoperatively positioned,

`the upper and lower of the slide bearings havingeach two such shafts.

n The lowerA of the coating-appling assemblies is inv all essential respects identical ywith.the upper assembly above described and presents a rigid frame formedof the elements 17, 19 andv20fconnected and rarranged as above set forth and vertically adjustable relativeto the posts 16 by means of nuts 18, the cages 21 of the lower arl' sembly ,being arranged and mounted as .are the l,cages 21 ofthe upper assembly and differing from said latter cages only in the number of slide bearings therein contained,

there being but vfour suchbearings in the cagesof the lower assembly andfive shafts 24 opperatively supported by slide blocks 23 in said bearings, the lowermost bearing of thelower assembly accommodating two o f said shafts. 'long side of theA apparatus, thel parallel, f

kThe vrods 20 extend at l.one end of the apparatuslbeyond the posts 16 to support gear cases or housings 27, 28, the gear case 27 @being fixed to the rods 20 of the upper assembly and the gear case 28 supported by the rods2() of the lowerassembly, said gear casesbeingseparate ianddistinct and havgear arrangement within the case 27, the

numeral 29.: desi ating a relatively large gearA journaled or .free rotation substanl` tially centrallyof the case,;a driven pinion 30, meshing `Awith, said gear y29 to rotate the ilatter( Grouped about and meshing with the gear 29 are sixupinions 31, each operatively connected with a shaft-.24 ofthe upper assembly, wherethrough the rotation ofthe vgear29 is transmitted-to six-of said shafts Y24 ,to .rotate themin a lcommon direction,

the v seventh shaft 24 being connectediwith a 4pinion 32 which in turn meshes with its adjacentpinion 31, sov that the two upper `of the shafts 24in the upper assembly are rotated in opposite directions. With the construction and arrangement illustrated, it

Y 3 4. Adrive shaft-B-is,horizontallydispsed longitudinally ,ofjand in spaced relation` with one side of;thelowerassembly;whichV is desirable that the 'rotationof thepinon 30 be -counterolooliwism that; v,Of .the t gear 29 clokwse, that 2 of .the -pnons t 31 counterclockwse andthat of the pinion 32 clockeach of said Jpinioiis 83; meshing with a. gear which latter, together withthe lpinions 33,

against countercloekwise rotation ofthe gear side of vl,the Vapparatus will be' designated hereinafter 'as Athe shaft side, and. iS` journaled forrotatonin bearings' supported by brackets-37 `fixed to and extending outwardly froinithe rods20 of said lower assembly,`

suitable means, suoli as a belt pulley onsaid shaft in operative*relation Withaprime mover, not shown, being pIOYided -forlthe r0- .tation of said shaft. The Shaft .36 oXtondS at oneend beyond the Outerend-.planos Of the gear eases QZandl QSLand Said projectingv end is provided With a pair of Similar chain sprockets 38and39, `the,sproolot 438V yboing directly connected bly-means of a chain 40 with a sprocketjfixedv to the-,outer end of the shaft supportingthe pinion V3Q, an idler sprocket -4ljbeing provided to permit of adjustmentsthat 'may be necessaryfin the relation betweenthe shaft 436 and gear case 27,- so Vthat rotation of the shaftzvis Sin'cethe direction 'offrotation ofthe pinion 35 is opposite to that ofthe piiiion 30,'t`hesprocket 39 `is,v connected by a chainl42 WihV a sprocket 43-on-the end of aistub kShaft carried by the outer face of the gear oase 28, theinner end .of the stub shaft Carrying 2a gear meshing With a gear on! the shaftv carryingzthe pinion'f, so that the rotation of thefshaft 3G is transmitted to rotate said pinion 351in a direction opposite tol that of. f

t the shaft 3G, the-rotationof ,-Saidfshafts,

naturally, *beingy oounterolockwise as' viewed' from the gear ease end ofthe apparatus.' `The grouping of the shafts :24 in the 11pper assemblyis-suoh as to *form-fak deformed U opening awayafrom'theshaft Sideof the apparatus, anda shaft 45, carryinga coating-applying fbrush assembly' hereinafter more specifically',` described, iS positioned substantially centrally of thev U ormed'by the shafts 24 andis supported at each end .t .by slide blooks carriedin the central slide bearing` of. the cages-2l, the' end of said -36 and. neoessitoti y sprocket f1.9, or sim; `auf device-,f to; effect-reverse :rotation of :seid l shaft 45 relatives to the shaft 36, A .similar shaft 45. 1s mounted has a vclockwise direction of; rotationv asl yclam ing t terribly. Ai ndioated inf-the drawings, the .transmitted to vthepinion 30 f0.1?.iopellittion3r ofthe gears zand,pinionsWithin therese 27..

projecting from a supplemental Vhousing 44 shaft 45 at the-gear oase f end of the apparayond the posts 16 to support a. yohain-sprocket 46- opoatvely connected with asprocket '47 of the drive shaft 36 by means of a chain 48, the desired direction of rotationof the shaft e5 boing opposite'to-that of the shaft the use of an idler longitudinally of tholower assembly and supported forrotntion luy-'slide blocks 23 earned bythe coges 2170i; said lower assexnl .bImthQeQIxdo-said latter shaft away from the Ageary cases kattending beyond the posts 16 to supporta.v chinaoprooet oidireetly oonneetedby means, of a chain Y51 withv a .s rocket 52 on the drvo'fshaft adjacent' e sprocket 47, thuspmviding means-for driving the shaft 45 o the lower assembly :in the same direction as the shaft 36. y .As .1s clearly shown -in-F1gures8,:9 nml i 1Q, the brush elements mounted on the; shafts.Y

45 consist oa' nornborlosmi-larabristleoarrying blocks sldngg mountedv on' a 'shaft 45 and' spaced apart reonby means of collars or shoulders 54 .of less diameter than the blocks A53,;d1sos or circular plates 55,A of leso diamoterthan ythe bristles carried by the blocks 53, being mountedl forwfree yNotation on and about theoollars 54v between adjacent blocks 52h-'Itho whole assembly-havmg `an together by means of nuts oengage shaft 45 at each; ond-ofthe brushesbristlee carried'bytheblooks 58 are preferably arranged in as number of separated" circular, .es vshown, .or mayY be circumferonf vtlallyr notohod to present a; series'of'- teeth, as l ,indicated by dottedhnes in Figure 9.

desired lengthy? and boing firmly lli) y The brush elements `assembled on, the

shafts 45 as above described-haves lengthl Lsubst antially equal to the-lengths of the toothed ,portlons of the shafts 24;?, and each of said brush elements. or` assemblies' is enclosed u1 ahousing 67" earned by the. shaft 45, saidhousings oompletely onolosingjthe brush assemblies save for a 4vertioa,ilydis-l l^ posed aperturelongtudinally of eaohhousmgon the side -adJacent the shafts 24 through which a .portion ofthe brush periphery projecto.- The housings 57gmaybe formed of tworor more. parte, for-convenienoe of manufacture andasoe'mbly, and each of said housings-is vformed with .an loffset chamber 58 oxtelndingthe length-.of its lower nl: j l or reservoir chamber 58 nelihingffslightly,.frbm "an inlet at one endto an outletatfthe other end.`l {Aiff pipe 59'connects the inletendof each cham ber 58f with ,a-fsource' lof-.liquid supply-A through suitable agitator s,li-pumps, and the supply, so that :continuous :circulation of liquid may be'maintained through thechaml .bers 58,-theadjus't-ment ofthe'overlow pipe'` 6044 relative toi "said chambers Vcontrolling the idepthfof liquid therein. :1

i 15and't0 relieveithesliaftsfl of that burden,"E

fish4,

the "space between saidsharfts and elements, the slidable* mounting of said cages on the rods 19-permitting suchilateral motion of vsaid cages which is controlled by adjusting screws 66" engaging through bases of the. yokes 17 vand engagingv against lugs carried by` each of the side portions of said cages. At? thegear case end of the apparatus, adjusting screws67` pass Zfreelythrough the` sides of the cages 21 and engage `througli'm arms xed'to the yokes 17 in position to bearagainstian'dV control the position ofthe slide'bl'ocks supporting the shafts 45 and the shafts 2'4most nearly adjacent the hous-- v ings -57 in the Alowermost slide bearings of 80 a vertically-disposed clampmembe'r .6l-isi thepcages 2l of 'each-assembly, thus'permitof rods 20 most.nearlyadjacenta housing 57 and'on the side offsaidhousing away 2()` mounted on and "exten'dsfbetween thje 'pairf from the 'aperture therein", one'clamp member6l being providedl for each vendof each housing; Each:v clamp -member '6l supp'orts a bar` 62JfiXedyat one end'thereto and eX- tending horizontally therefrom' perpendicuf lar to a shaft 45i outwardlyof and adjacent the corresponding rendof a-housing 57, said A bars 62 beingslidinglyvreceivedfin aper- A mittingzhoriziontal adjustment Ithereof along tured Ybosses v 63 xed `to'llo'r integral with the ends of the housings 57, thus providingV vertical support for said housings whilepersaid bars 62.41

As'clearl-y'shown in'lligure 2',Y the shafts;

24= ofthe upper assemblylare Kpositioned beapertures Vof' theflhousings 57 in eachcasef fwhereby/'a passage-I is defined-v by and betweenf f f l the brush 'elements projecting `through saidf ting-r adjustment of these elements independently'of the cagesk 21. AAt the Vbrush barsGS, one of said members 69 being provided forthe upper and one for the lower assembliesof 'the-apparatus, each of said-90 members 69 being provided with an aperturedfboss through which is rotatably received' its respective shaft 45, adjusting screws 7 Genga-ging through arms 71 in fixed4` relation with the-bars 68 and bearing-g5 against-the'members 69 serving to control thel lateral position 'of said members 69, and

consequently the position of one end of the shafts 45, independently of the cages 2l, adfA .justing screws 72 ,passing freely througl'ivloc fsides of the cages 21 at the brush drive end of theapparatus and engaging through ya`rf'1`ns73 'carried by the members 69 -1n position "to fbe'ar against the slide blocks 23 sup;v porting' the f shafts.' '24 lmost nearly adjacent 105 the housingsrv 57 inthe lowermost slide bearingsfof the cages2l,serving to control the lateral: adjustment of' this end of said shafts and subjecting said shafts to control by the lower of .the'fmost nearly alined shafts; 24KA screws 7 0,-while permitting independent ad 110 lcarrled bythe cages o f the upper assembly'y lare adjustable ateach endlat'erally offsaid' ycages bymeans of 1 individual-fadjusting*V screws 64'engag1ng through 'side portions of- 23 ofsaid shafts, expansive: coil `springs`65= the'cage's'21 to bear against the fslideblocks p positioned between said slide blocks and'l they-V opposlte side 'ofthefcagesf 2l serving"t'ohold said blocks against 'saidadjust'ing screws.

In like manner, the four most-nearly alined .j

. ranged for independent" lateral adjustment at each' end relative: to'the 'cages of said` as-Y paratus and the shafts 45 arel arranged for? adjustment'"independently'of the Vcages 2l,

Seurat, with tlfn ,-'s1 1afts-24 controlled bythe screws' 64 yadjusted as' idesied, fthe cages 21't i' fis carryingQsaid-*shafts may be moved toward? l or away from thefvbru'shelementsllto 'vary justment thereof.' -f v As illustrated, similar, curved arms 74 are removably and" replaceablysecured to and curve upwardly .andy forwardly from upper `portions of the cages 2l of the upper assenr- 115 bly,"the' lower ends ofsaid'arms'74 engagingthelforivard'endsofthe shafts 24 in the upper slide bearingV of said cages to position said shaft relative to said-arms. A pluralv ity. of feeding Vrolls identicalwith or simila` @to the'asse'mblies 24, 25, 26", indicated at 75,

'providedv with chain sprockets 76 interconnected `by means'y of ua chain 77 in driving relationlwith'a sprocket carried by the shaft 24 engaged byt the'ends of the arms 130 74, so that thefrolls*Ie-faredriyen same direction as said shaft, which"iscloek-fv Wise as viewedrom-tlie gear case 'end of control theV tension of the chain 77. Suitablev strips 79 are provided' 'toconnect "the,

arms 74: betweenvthe rolls '75 and form" a b'etl over which material may befed.'

Arms 8O removahl'yf und replaoeablyQcar--- 10 .ried by the cages '21 ofthe upper assembly in spaced, parallel relation above-and rear# Wardly of the arm-s 74 adjustably anr'l yield: K l

may be lowered suicientlyor mounting of j ingly support acurved Sl'injuniformly spaced relation with amil above' the 15 formed by thel rolls '75: and'fstrips 79.' *The connection between the arms 80 and bedSlis effected hy means oi bolts i'ising'm'm said bed and passing lloosely' throughfthejamisf 80, nuts on said bolts' 'preventing thereof in one direction lariel providing forV adjustment While expansive coil springs yieldingly urge said bed lto ,the'limit of its spacing relative vto thearms' V'80." The bedl: is longitudinally 'slotted opposite to the` rolls 75 and `idler rolls 82 arev =rotatably carried by said bed in 'spaced parailelisin- "withA 1 the rolls 7 5, thereby dening afthroat Alie-, tween thelrolls `-75 and 82ti1rou`gh which ma# teriall may. be geclley 'the action of the' rolls 3 The lower enel of .tlieiie .81 'is JVextenled downwardly xhetvvfeen 1 there `es"`2' win" the slide -blocks 23 carrying the rea'rniost lof thefshatsi'in* forni of arms y'which engage t the upper slide bearing osaid'leagesdhus providing that as the *hed .8,1 is'fadiusted 1to1* Wares or away from Lthe'rollsj the 'spacing between the shafts?! in theupperslide been! i ingrr will he `varied aceordilrgly.;`

ln the practi-caloperation o myV iiiiprove# 4 1nent,`the e1ements beingA assembled 'anti ai* ranged as illustrated anlaheve "it is obvious that flexible material ediretween the relis 75 andSQWillbe 'ilrawndownwari f ly through the passage thereby Klenel'nd' drawn by the roh-shaftsQilfwcrossthe periphery of the larushelement projectlng through the apertureof itshousing 'wvhifoli brush element, dipping-in the' liquiearried by the housing 57f,`thoroughly coatsone `siile' 5 of the material, the rate of rotation of the brush cie-ment preferably Seeing' `in excess fof that 'of the `shafts 24s@ that arr-eliicientwiping action of sai-dbrush ishad on the surface of the material, the dises or `plates 55, Vbeing free Vtev rotate independently of @thebrushv speed, serving` 5to spread 'anti hold'the rnate-y riai against the y'roll shafts 'Without hasten-ing the rate of gtrawel Yofsuch material.

AAfter the material has passed 'fthe *"orush" 60 element it is directed downwardly into the lower assembly Whererts .nnooated sitle' tisx subjected to the actiono the second brush i5-plied to the iirst sur-faceythe providing an apparatus adepta'bleto arwid'e* rial thence being-discharged to a suitable'. fconyeyor, knot shown, `for further handing, 'l r-treatlnelitoriisposition. f

the apparatus, an idler 78ibe`in'g provided to 'It is obvious lthatprovision ism-aide'in the 'apparatus for the various adjustments which mayl be required for coatingmaterials" 5fifS of-differentsizes, thicknesses, degrees of -flex per assembly, orthalathe4 lowervv-assembly" the eedingassembly directly thereon, thus-v variety of usefulness' in various Vfields. v y

" Smceiniinltek changes and modifications 1n 'the specicormfand relation of the e1eyfmentso'f my improvement may loe'hati-wi1ith-y out' departing vfrom the; spirit' of the invention, yI wis'hto-oe understood as being 'limited''sole'ly layy the scope Vpcf theappended ing and foregoing description. i 1

I claim as my invention-s spaced parallel relation from said base, siinf ilar 'materialmating assemblies 'in-super'- posed relation carried "by and' independently adjustnlevertie'v'ail'gy 'o fsaifd posts; 'each' ofL saidff assemblies comprising a plurality o* Vam claims Tatherthan by thefiliustrativeshow feeding-'rolls clelining .a passageaboutand*v adjacent one side lof a rotataiole brushele'- inent'find material lieeding ineens ener-1d* reiationwith the 'iuppero fil-ar material-coating assemblies carried 'in4 superposed relation by 'and indepenently adjustable 'x'fertically of saidy posts,`each of 1 said assemblies' V'comprising( a 4rigidV frame, a

rotatable brush eiementshitable laterally of said franreand'- a plurality of feeding ,rolls arranged for independentflateral yadr-1; l justinent in-said` frame and *leninga'passagev jalivofutanl adjacent oneI `sile' A `ofgsaidY mi brushelement' y Y A. i

'rArrfapparatus Y of the fcharacterkle'f. scribed` comprising a base, r.posts rising in spaced parallel relation from said baSQsimT- ilar material-coating assembliesy carried .in

f superposed relation'fby and .ndepenelently;l

adinst-able vertically of said posts, ,eachio said assemblies lcomprising a"rigidfra1ne,a romtable brush elementv Vshiftahle laterally of said frame, "n vplurality Vof feeding A:rolls arranged for 'independentlaterai adjustment in said frame anddenng La vpassage about, andnja'c'entene side yof :said brush element, .and lrrieans `forV simultaneously shitting a f ofswid feeding rolls laiternllyof said 13b '52- Il. An apparatus o fthe character dey, "scribed Comprising a baseposts rising is 1evel in said-housingiin contactwith the 'spaced parallel relationl from said base,

.lltrama'a housing substantially-enclosing said frame to varyrthe s pacing'between said rolls Y' and brush element.

4. An apparatus ofjthey character idescribedcomprising-a base, posts rising in similar material-coating assemblies ycarried insuperposed relation by and independently. adjustable vertically lof said posts, veach of said `assemblies comprising a rigid frame, a rotatable brush element-shiftableflaterallyrofV said frame, aV housingl substantially enclosing said brush. element and arranged to expose oneside of said brushielement there-V through, means 'for maintaining a liquid periphery of said brush element, a plurality of ,feeding rolls arranged orflateral-adjustment in said'frame and dei'ningfapassage about and adjacentthe-exposed side of Tsaid brush element, and means forrotatingsaid frfeeding rolls and brush element. 5.An apparatus oftheV character described comprising a base, postsrising inspaced' parallel relation from 'said -base,; similar material-coating assemblies carried vin superposed relation by and independently adjustable verticallyof -said postsgeach ofsaidV assembliesr comprising arigid frame, a rotat-V ablebrush element shiftable laterally of; said"v brush-element andarranged tra-expose one side ofsaid-brushl element therethrough, means ,for maintaining ali uid level in said-1 housing .in Contact with t eperi hery of Y rolls arranged :for vlateral adjustment in-sai dv frame and defining a passage about-andadjacent -theexposed side of. said brush'` element, the eXposedsideso-Vsaid brush ele-l 40. ments vfacing'opposite sides of their respective frames, and means for rotating said, feeding rolls and-brush.elements,' f

6. An apparatusgof the charac-ter described comprising a baseHposts rising in spaced parallel lrelation from, said base, similar material-coating assemblies carried in superposed relation by and independently; adjustable vertically of` said posts,` eaclrff said 1 assemblies comprising a :rigid Iframe, cages madjacent each end of said frame and shiftable laterally thereof, a rotatable 'brush element` shiftable laterally of saidfframe ,independently ofs'aidcag'es, a plurality of .feeding rolls mounted for lateral' adjustment 5Min' and'relative to said lcages,saidrolls de-l GQcomprising a base, posts risingfin spaced fining a passage about and'adja'centonev side ofsaidbrush element,'and means for rotating said feeding rollsV and brush element.`

7. An apparatus of the character described parallel relation f from said "base, similar:

i material-coating assemblies rcarried in superposed relation by and independently adjustable -vertically of` said posts, each of saidI assembliescomprising a rigid frame, cages,`

adjacent each end andisliiftable flaterally of `said frame,a rotatable brush element shift- Aable laterally of said frame independently of said cages a housingl substantially 4enclosing i .said l brushY element, shiftable therewith, vand ,arranged to expose one side of said .element therethrough, a plurality of feeding vrolls vcarried by saidfcages .in position Ito define a 4passage about and adjacent the exposed side ofY saidf brush element, some of said rollsv being arranged for independent adjustment vin 'and relative to said cages and others of i sa-id .rolls beingjarranged `for adjustment independently of said cages, and means for- -grotatingfsaidwbrush .element and lfeeding rolls. i

8. Anv apparatus of the character describedy ycomprising a-. base, posts-rising in spaced parallel relation Vfrom;y said-base,l similar material-coating assemblies carried in superable vertically-of. saidiposts, yeach of saidV assemblies lcomprising a rigid frame, a rotatable brush lelement':longitudinally of said frame and apluralityiot` rotatable feeding rolls defining a passage about and adjacent;` one side of said brush element, a drive shaft carried lay-.one of said frames and operative connectionsbetween said drive shaft, brush elements zand feeding rolls `whereby saidbrush elements and-.feeding rolls may@ be rotated-to feed material downwardlyy through? the passage therebetween.

*97. 73Anp apparatus of' the character de- Yscribed comprising afbase, posts rising in spaced parallell relation from said base, similar material-coating assemblies carried 1n superposed relation g-:by and. independently ladjustable vertically'ofsaid posts, each of saidy assemblies comprising a rigid lframe, a v*rotatable brush element longitudinally of v said-,frameand a plurality .ofgrotatable feeding rolls defining :"a passage about and adjacent' one sideof said Vbrush element, a drive shafty carried bygone" of said vframes 4and .operative -.connections between said drive shaft, brush elements and feeding rolls wherebysaid brush'elements may be rotated simultaneously with 4and at a greater vvspeed than said feeding rolls.

10. In an apparatus yof the character de- `scribed having a base and posts rising in spaced-parallel -relationifrom said base, a material-coatingassembly carried byl and adjustable vertically of said posts, said assembly comprising a 4rigid vframe slidably engaging said posts, means 4for positioning said Lframe relative to said posts, a rotatable brush element longitudinally of said frame,a plurality of' feeding rolls' parallel with Vandldefining a passage about and adjacentone side-of saidbrush element and means for rotating said brush element and feeding rolls to feed material downwardly through the passageftherebetween,

11. In an apparatus of the character described having a base and Vposts rising in spaced parallel relation from said base, a material-coating assembly` carried by and adjustable vertically of said posts, said asly of said frame independently of said` brush element, and means for rotating said brush element and feeding rolls to feed material downwardly through the passage therebetween.

12. In an apparatus of the character described having a base andposts rising in spaced parallel relation from` said base, a material-coating assembly 'carried byv and adjustable vertically of said posts,.said assembly comprising a rigid frame slidably engaging said posts, vcages adjacent each end and shiftable laterally of said frame, means for adjustably positioning said frame relative to said posts, :a rotatable brush element between said cages and shiftable laterally of said frame independently of said cages, a housing substantially enclosing said brush element, shiftable therewith, and arranged to expose one side "of said brushv element therethrough, a plurality of feeding rolls carried by said cages in position to define a passage about and adjacent the exposed side of said brush element, some of said rolls being arranged for independent adjustment in and relative to said cages and others of said rolls being karranged for adjustment independently of said cages, and means 'for rotating said brush element and feeding rolls.

13. In an apparatus of the character described having a base and posts risingin spaced parallel relation therefrom, a material-coating assembly carried lby and adjustable vertically of said posts, said aswsembly comprising a rigid frame slidably engaging said posts, means for adjustably positioning said frame relative to said posts, a rotatablebrush element longitudinally of said frame and shiftable laterally thereof, a housing substantially enclosing said brush element, shiftable therewith, and arranged to expose one side of said brush element therethrough, means for maintaining a liquid level in said housing in contact with the peripheryV of said brush element,

feed materiall downwardly through the passage therebetween.

14. In an apparatus of the character described having a base, posts rising in spaced parallel relation from said base, a rigid `frame slidably mounted for vertical adjustment on and relative to said posts and a plurality of feeding rolls longitudinally of said frame and independently adjustable laterally thereof, a rotatable brush element parallel with said rolls and cooperating therewith to define a passage therebetween, said brush element comprising a rotatable shaft, a yplurality of cylindrical blocks loosely` mounted on said shaft, bristles on and extending radially of said blocks, collars of less diameter than said blocks loosely on said shaft between and separating adjacent blocks, means engaging said shaft to clamp said shaft, blocks and collars into a unitary assembly and feeding plates of less diameter than the bristles of said brush element mounted for free rotation on said collars between adjacent blocks.

15. Inan apparatus of thecharacter described having a base, posts rising in spaced parallel relation from said base, a rigid vframe slidably mounted for vertical adjust` ment on and relative to said posts and a plurality ofv feeding rolls longitudinally of said frame and independently adjustable laterally thereof, a rotatable brush element parallel with saidh rolls and cooperating therewithv to define a passage therebetween, said brush element comprising a rotatable shaft, a plurality of cylindrical blocks loosely mounted on said shaft, bristles on andextending radially yof said blocks, collarsof less diameterV than said blocks loosely on said shaft-.between and separating adjacent fib'locks, means engaging said shaft to clampk said shaft, blocks and collars into a unitary assembly, feeding plates of less diameter thanA the bristles of said rbrush element mounted for free rotation on said collars betweenadjacent blocks, a housing substantially enclosing said brush element and arranged toV expose therethrough the side of said lbrush element adjacent said feeding rolls and means for maintaining a liquid level in said housing in contact with the periphery of said brush element.

In witness whereof I afiix my signature. ROBERT G. WOODS. 

